Binding arrangement



I. SPINNER 2,251,343

'BINDING ARRANGEMENT Filed May 16, 1938 Patented Aug. 5, 1941 BINDING ARRANGEMENT Isidore Spinner, Chicago, Illl, assignor to Plastic Binding Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 16, 1938, Serial No. 208,146

3 Claims.

The invention relates generally to a loose leaf binding arrangement and more particularly to the binding element employed in the arrangement.

A general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved binding arrangement which is economically manufactured, easily applied and, when applied, presents a neat, attractive and striking appearance.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a new and improved binding element to be employed in the binding arrangement.

Another object is toprovide a binding element in the form of a split ring composed of a resilient material permitting opening of the ring by eX- pansion for application to the material to be bound and having interengaging locking means capable of engagement or disengagement by a simple contracting or expanding movement.

A further object is to provide a binding element in the form of a split ring of resilient material having interengaging means at or near its end composed of an aperture near one end and a tongue on the other end adapted to be received in the aperture.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a book embodying the binding arrangement.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the binding element disclosed in Fig. 1 shown in expanded position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the binding element in the position shown in Fig. 3, taken along the line l4 of that figure.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the strip from which the binding element is formed.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of a modified form of binding element shown in expanded position.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the element of Fig.v 6 in the position shown therein.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the modified form of element, taken approximately centrally of the element and with the element shown in normal or closed position.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of still another modified form of binding element.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the element of Fig. 9 taken on the line ill-4i] of that figure.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the element of Fig. 9 shown in expanded position.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, it is shown in the drawing and will be described hereinafter in a preferred embodiment and two modifications, but it is not intended that the invention is to be limited thereby to the specific constructions disclosed, but it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, disclosing the binding arrangement generally, I I represents a plurality of sheets, leaflets or the like which are to be bound together in loose leaf form. Accordingly there is formed, as by punching, near the'edge of each sheet ll one or more apertures l2 which, of course, are in registry when the sheets are properly stacked. In the present instance, the apertures H are rectangular for a reason which will presently become apparent. To hold the sheets I I together a binding element l3 in the nature of a split ring is provided which is adapted to be inserted through' the apertures l2 in'the sheets. In the present instance, this element I3 is of a unique construction resulting in many advantages. The element I3 is composed of an elongated strip of thin,-resilient material which may be formed into a ring (Figs. 1 and 2), and when so formed has sufficient resiliency to permit separation of its ends by the application of force expanding the ring and to return to normal position upon release. Preferably some light weight material which may also be variously colored is employed. Some cellulose compound such as Celluloid has'been found to be very satisfactory. The element l3, as previously stated, is formed from an elongated strip which is cut, as by punching, from a sheet of the material. Preferably the strip, and the resulting ring. are of substantial width, at least many times the thickness of the strip, for with that construction and the elongated apertures l2 in the sheets II the sheets will be neatly retained and will not rotate even though they are secured by but a single element I3. Though the binding elements are basically the same, they may be constructed with variation in details. A simple, but not the preferred or claimed, form is shown in Figs. 3 to 5. At one end, preferably spaced inwardly so as to provide a substantial overlap it, this element has a rectangular opening l5 extending transversely, while at its other end it carries a tongue l6 adapted to be received in the opening l5 when the strip is formed into a ring. In that manner the opening I5 and the tongue [6 form an interengaging or locking means for the element. To enhance the effectiveness of the locking means, the tongue it may be formed with notches I! at its base which engage the end walls of the opening l5 and thus prevent withdrawal of the tongue unless properly centered as by an intentional effort to expand the element. Notches It may also be formed in the strip opposite the opening l4. As best seen in Figs. 2 and. 4, the overlap l4 of the element is offset slightly inwardly at the opening l5, and the tongue l6 likewise is offset inwardly at its base so as to provide a neat joint. If desired the element may also be oifset outwardly at [9 further to enhance the smoothness of the resulting ring.

Having described the construction of the binding element I 3, the manner of applying the same, though substantially apparent, will be described briefly. The sheets II to be bound are first assembled and, if not already formed with one or more apertures I 2, such an aperture is formed therein. The element [3 is then expanded by a simple movement longitudinally of the tongue until the tongue and the opening l are completely disengaged and separated. One end of the element, usually the tongue, is then inserted into the apertures l2 and the element rotated to thread it through the apertures. The element I 3 is then released whereupon the resiliency of the material will return it to normal position. In such return the tongue 16 first strikes the overlap I4 (see Fig. 4) and then slides along the same to be thereby guided into the opening I5. Thus,

as a result of the overlap l4 and also the offset of the overlap, the tongue and the opening !5 are interengaged quickly and with little or no efiort and the application of the element is completed.

Normally two or more elements I 3 are employed for each binding, however, should it prove desirable or necessary that but a single element be employed the present element is unusually adapted. As previously pointed out, the sheet aperture is made long and narrow to accommodate the element l3, which is made wide and of a thin strip. It is believed apparent that such an arrangement, even when but a single element I3 is employed, prevents the relative twisting of the sheets which is permitted by a round aperture and a round element.

Figs. 6 to 8 disclose the preferred and claimed form of element l3. This form is the same as that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 in all respects except that instead of an opening [5 the overlap M is formed with a slot 20 that opens through the end edge of the element 'I3'.' Preferably, though not necessarily, the tongue [6 is made wider than the slot 20 while the notches 11' at the base of the tongue are deep enough so that at that point the tongue is narrow enough to be received in the slot 20. As a result, when the "element is in its normal position shown in Fig.8, the shoulders formed by the notches 'I l" engage the edges of the slot 20 and thus tend to retain the-element in its normal contracted position.

Figs. 9 to 11 disclose another modified but not claimed form of element 13". This formal'so is generally similar to that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 and accordinglyha-s a tongue l6" extending from one end of the element and an opening i=5" in the other end spaced inwardly'from the edge thereof. In this form of the element, the overlap 44'', however, is bent inwardly to a radial position, the bend commencing just slightly outwardly of the inner edge of the opening 15". 'One of the advantages resulting from this construction is that the opening t5", though actually no larger than the opening I15 in Figs. 1 to 5, is effectively :larger since it is disposed radially and thus insertion of the tongue l6" into theopening is facilitated.

In addition, the tongue IS" instead of being formed with notches at its base is formed on opposite sides with nubs 2| spaced slightly outwardly from the base of the tongue. These nubs project laterally of the tongue a distance just sufiicient to have a slight engagement with the 'edges of the opening I5" as the tongue I6 is passed therethrough. The application of a slight pressure will force the nubs 2| past the edges of the opening and, once past, the nubs engage behind the edge of the opening (see Fig. 9) to form an effective locking means for the element.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have perfected a new and improved binding arrangement and particularly a new binding element having many novel and advantageous features. The binding arrangement not only presents a neat and striking appearance, but is easily and readily applied and is effective even though but a single binding element is employed. The element itself has many structural features contributing to the ease of application or removal, at the same time providing an effective engaging or locking means for retaining the element in normal position.

I claim as my invention:

1. A binding element for use in a loose leaf binding arrangement comprising an elongated strip of thin resilient material rolled into a split ring normally and inherently assuming a closed position, said strip having an extension at one end narrower than the strip, a slot in the opposite end of the strip extending longitudinally of the strip and opening through the end edge thereof, said slot being narrower than said extension, and a notch formed in either side of the extension at the base thereof enabling the extension at its base to be received slidably within said slot.

2. A binding element for use in a loose leaf binding arrangement comprising an elongated strip of thin resilient material rolled into a split ring normally and inherently assuming a closed position, said strip having an extension at one end narrower than the strip, notches out into said extension on opposite sides thereof near its base, and a slot in the opposite end of said strip extending longitudinally thereof and opening through the end edge thereof adapted to receive said extension when the element assumes normal closed position.

3. A binding element for use in a loose leaf binding arrangement comprising an elongated strip of thin, resilient material rolled 'into a split ring normally and inherently assuming a closed position, said strip having an extension at one end narrower than the strip, said extension being offset inwardly at its point of engagement with said strip, a slot in the opposite end of the strip extending longitudinally of the strip and opening through the end thereof, the portion of the strip containing said slotbeing offset inwardly at the inner end of the slot to form with said extension a double overlap with both the extension and the portion containing the slot disposed within the ring when in normal position,said slot being narrower than said extension, and a notch formed in either side of the extension at the base thereof enabling the extension at its base to be received slidably within said slot.

ISlIDORE SPINNER. 

